Universal joint



C. D. CUTTING UNIVERSAL JOINT Dec. 4, 1928.

I Filed Dec. 30, 1927 ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 4, 192s. I j j T 3,594

UNITE resv earns ()FFICEF CHARLES D. oursinaor'nnraorr, MICHIGAN.

UNIVERSAL JOINT.

Application filed December 30, 1327. Serial No. 243 543.

- My invention contemplates the provision time as the upper ends thereof pass the rims of a simple, economical and efficient end of their adjacent .cross arms when the in thrust bearing piece for universal joints, and herent tension of the'tongues will cause them more particularly has for its object the proto spring inwardly into the hollow portions 60 5 vision of simple means forsecuring the end of the adjacent bearing arms where they will thrust bearing piece in place. be held against outward displacementowing lVith the above and other object-sin view, to the ends of the fingers striking the inside my invention consists in the arrangement, of the cross arm Whenever-there is any tend combination and construction of the various ency of the bearing piece to move outwardly 65 parts of my improved device, as described in in the slot'. r

the specification, claimed in my claims and r In order to disassemble the parts it is neces shown in the accompanying drawing, in sary that a tool be extendedfinto the aper-' which: true providedin each of the bearing pieces Fig. 1 is a plan view of a universal joint em- 10 for the purpose of bending the spring 15 bodying my invention, certain parts being fingers-outwardly until they clear the ends broken away to illustrate portions thereof in of the cross arms. When this has been done tio I the bearing pieces'may be lifted out of the Fig. 2 is a sectional View taken on line 2' slots and the parts disassembled. v of Fig. 1. For the purpose of preventing rotation of.

3 is a plan view of the end thrust bear the sleeves 9 in the yoke arms, I provide pins ing piece utilized in my invention. 20, each of which engage a. yoke arm at one Fig. 41s a-view taken on linedlot Fig. 3.. end and a slot 21 in asleeve9 at the other Fig. 5 is a view partly in plan and partly in end.

section showing a portion of a universal joint 7, It is well' known that in the propeller shafts 25 wherein a modification of my invention is of some automobiles only on universal'jo'int l d. is employed and that in such constructions I have shown a universal joint comprising the cross arms must be permitted end play.

generally yokes5 and 6 and a cross member 'When my improved end thrust member is em comprising a-central portion 7 and four bearployed in such a construction, itbears only 55 ing arms 8. Each ofthe bearing arms may against the bearing sleeve 9, acting to prevent be of hollowconstruction, or may be prodislocation of the same. In this construcvided with recesses adjacent their outer ends. tion,'which is illustrated in the modification The bearing arms of thecross are po'siof Fig. 5,the'tongues'12 engage the inner petioned in the yoke arms, conventional bearriphery of the sleeves .to prevent dislocation 90 ing sleeves 9 being placed in the yoke arms of the end thrust piece. l

'to receive the cross arms. V It will be obvious that various changes In order to provide end thrust bearings for may be made in the arrangement, combination the cross arms I have provided bearing memand construction of the various parts of my bers or plates 10 which are adapted to be in improved device without departing from the 95 r 40 serted in slots 11 provided in each of the yoke spirit of my invention, and it is my intention arms adjacent the ends of the cross arms. to cover'by my claims such changes as may The bearing pieces 10 are originally of arc reasonably be included within the scope shape, as shown particularly in Fig. 4, so that thereof. 1 i when they are pressed into the slots 11 they l/V hat I claim is: V v

will be straightened and will be held in the 1. Auniversaljoint including a yoke memslot under spring tension. 7 ber havin an oscillatable piece therein, an

In order to secure the bearing pieces in end thrust'bearing member for said piece:

the yokes they are provided with tongues 12 positioned at the end thereof and carried by Y. which normally extend at an angle to the the yoke independently of the piece and 105 body of the bearingpieces. As is pa'rticu means for holding said bearing member larly shown in Fig. 1, these tongues normally against dislocation relative to said piece,- extend inwardly toward the central portion comprising inter-engaging parts on the piece of the cross. l/Vhen the bearing pieces are and bearing'member. being pushed into their slots, the tongues will 2. A universal j oint' including a yoke memno '55 assume positions in alignmentwiththe reber having an oscillatable piece therein, an

mainder of the bearing pieces until such a end thrust bearing memberjfor said piecepositioned at the endtheneot and carried by the yoke independently of the piece and means for holding said bearing member against dislocation relative to said piece, comprising a tongue on one of said parts, and a recess in the other in Which said tongue may engage.

3. A universal ointincluding ayoke memher having an oscillatable piece therein, an end thrust bearing member for said piece and means for holding said bearing member against dislocation relative to said piece, comprising a slot in the yoke member into which the bearing member is pressed, and a tongue on the bearing memrer engageab-le in a recess on the piece.

t. A universal joint including a yoke memher having an oscillatablc p ece therein, an end thrust bearing member for saidkpiece and means for holding said bearing member against dislocation relative to said :piece, comprising a slot in the yoke member into which the bearing :member is pressed, and a tongue on the bearing member engageable in arecesson the piece, said tongue lying in aplane different thantheplaneor-the bearing member and being automatically engaged .in said recess When the bearing member is assembled.

5. A universal joint includinga yoke member having an oscillatable piece therein, said yoke having a slot therein adjacent an end of said piece, an end-thrustbearinganember tor said ,piece insertible ;in;-said slot and means forming, a part otsaid bearing-memher for holding .it against dislocation gtrom theslot after it has been assembled.

'6. A universal joint including a yoke member having an) oscillatable @piece therein, said yoke having a slot therein adjacent an endrot saidpiece, an end thrust bearing member for said;piece insertible :in said slot and a tongue member on the-end thrust bearing member engaging said piece when the bearing-member has been assembled, ?to thereby holdthe bearingmember against dislocation.

7. A universal joint including a yoke member having a radial bearing piece thereing, an end thrust member for said piece positioned at the end thereof and carried by the yoke independently oi the piece and means tor holding the end thrust member against dislocation, comprising inter-engaging parts on the said piecea-nd end thrust member.

8. A universal oint including a yoke mem ber having a radial bearing piece therein, an end thrust member tor said piece positioned at the end thereof and carried-by the yoke indepei'idontly of the piece and means for holding the end thrust member against dislocation, comprising .a recess in the piece and a tongue on the end thrust bearing engaging in the recess.

9. A universal joint including yoke vmember having a slot in at least one of its arms, a radial bearing piecein said arm havingone end positioned adjacent said-slot. a member inserted in said slot forming anend thrustelement for said radial bearing piece, and interengaging parts on said piece and member, when they areassemblech to prevent dislocation of said member.

10. A universal joint including a yoke member having a slot in at least one "of it arms, a radial bearing piece in saidarmihaving one end positioned adjacent said slot, .a member inserted in saidslot forminganend thrust element for said radial bearing piece, and a tongue on said member-engaging the said piece, when the parts are assen'1bled,-to prevent dislocation of the said member.

11. A universal vjoint comprising bearing members and a supporting yoke structure forsaid members, end thrust members positioned at theends of the bearing members and carriedbythe supportingyoke structure independently of .the bearing members and interengaging parts on the .bearin g ,m embers and endthrust members preventing dislocation-of them relativeto each other.

CHARLES D. CUTTING. 

